Daniel 11v32, “And such as violate the covenant he shall pervert {and} seduce with flatteries, but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong {and} shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].
Jeremiah 9v24, “But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord”
Malachi 3v6, “For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”
Malachi 3v13-18, “Your words have been strong {and} hard against Me, says the Lord. Yet you say, What have we spoken against You? You have said, It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His ordinances and walk gloomily {and} as if in mourning apparel before the Lord of hosts? And now we consider the proud {and} arrogant to be happy {and} favored; evildoers are exalted {and} prosper; yes, and when they test God, they escape [unpunished]. Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced {and} worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name. And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize {and} openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him Then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who does not serve Him.”
What is knowing God & What can we about Him?
•It is knowing and understating the full counsel of God. Knowing His attributes as revealed in His Word, having fellowship and a personal relationship with Him.
How do you know God?
Psalms 119v99-100, “I have better understanding {and} deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].”
•Through the word
•Through personal fellowship or communion with Him
What are the benefits, proof or results of knowing God?
Psalms 91v14, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows {and} understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
Ps 91:15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”
Psalms 145v8-11, “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy {and} loving-kindness. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created]. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]! They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power,”
What kind of generation are we?
•Judges 2v10, “And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers, and there arose another generation after them who did not know (recognize, understand) the Lord, or even the work which He had done for Israel.”
•With generations coming and going, the true knowledge of God gets diluted and some of the things get lost.
•There are things and the knowledge about God that seem to prevail in different generations
•It seems the devil through ignorance and excesses keeps one generation confined to few aspects about God without grasping the full package.
•We need to have a balanced understanding and knowledge of God and not move from extreme to extreme.
Examples of generational excesses
A) Holiness
•There was a generation that concentrated in holiness and was only concerned about that to the extent of them ignoring the other practical aspects of life.
•Holiness is a standard and requirement in our Christian walk but its not all there is to know and preach, there is more to the gospel than holy living! You can be biased and go to extreme about holiness and protecting holiness and forget to walk in love, mercy, compassion, etc. You may sin against God and other believers because of limited knowledge about “holiness”.
•I heard that long back in the church, there was a generation that would persecute or even kill those that claimed that the earth was round. Probably because the bible talks about the 4 corners of the earth!
B) Money, riches & success evil
•1Timothy 6v10, “For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray {and} have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.”
•Matthew 6v24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by {and} be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in)”
•There was a time in the church when riches, wealth and money was deemed sinful
•Those that believed could have been genuine but ignorant.
•Some believed that being poor was humble
•They believed in Christians not having fun and good life on earth. They did not even believe in academic excellence, etc
•You can be covetous and proud without money in your pocket!
C) Holy Spirit & tongues
•When the church discovered or rediscovered that we can have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, some went to extremes.
•People thought that if you spoke in tongues you had achieved all there is in the spiritual life
•They thought that if you did not speak in tongues or were not Spirit filled, you were not a Christian
•Some thought that if you spoke in tongues you would not sin or that was a sign of being holy
•Some went even to extremes of addressing the devil in tongues or casting out devils in tongues!
•Some thought medical science was not right, everything had to be done through the Spirit. If you did use reasoning in some things, you were carnal.
•Some went into extremes about prophecy and being by the Holy Spirit.
•Their emphasis was on being anointed and used by the Spirit even without living godly lives.
D) Sanctification
•Some believed and were out of balance about living consecrated lives
•They taught being set apart for God and not associate with the world
•You could not associate or befriend people who are not saved
•You could not get advice from sinners even your parents or relatives
•You were not supposed to marry as that was being carnal or of the flesh
•Some felt so spiritual that they forgot that they still lived in a natural body with desires and feelings
•Some young man would say, “I can sleep in the same blanket with a woman and not do anything”!
E) Being Called
•There came a time when every young person was called into ministry
•If you received a word of prophecy and had hands laid on you, you were ready to minister!
•Some dropped out of colleges, universities & companies because they were called.
•Imagine coming from a not so rich a family, your parents having sacrificed greatly raising your college fees and then with one year left to graduate, you drop out because God has called you!
•Some thought if called you did not need any qualification where you could, the Holy Spirit would lead!
F) Without Direction
•There arose another generation that was some how directionless
•They loved God, lived holy lives, studied the Word, but when you follow their lives, they aren’t going anywhere
•They are roaming around the mountain!
•They seem very content with nothing
•Their extreme could be complacency or laziness.
•The greatest dream they have is marriage and children!
•Most of the times their marriages are not enjoyable again, they are just enduring.
•They can’t challenge you with anything, they can’t motivate you, they are not progressing or growing to anything. They are just waiting for heaven!
G) The Loose and light – yoyo generation
•There is another generation, mostly associated with our time, I do not like to be part of it either.
•They are loose in most of the things they do. They want simple and light things.
•It does note possess a genuine character, they are very deceptive.
•They may do a lot of things in church, but live in sin. They do not want to accountant. They do not want you to criticize them, you are not supposed to judge them!
•There is a very thin line (in any) between them and the world
•James 4v4, “You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.”
•We need to be careful; you may wound up being part of the world and end up an enemy of God.
•This generation does not believe in difficult things, it does not believe in being patient
•It is I know it all generation
•It is a generation that is light, loose, lazy, full of compromise & hypocritical.
•These days, in the world there is a lot of divorce, loose talking, lack of respect for parents, people demanding their rights and freedom, the things we buy in stores are not made to last, loose habits, etc
•It is unfortunate that we have allowed the same in the church and in our lives.
•Divorce is now common in church, respect and honor for parents and older people is lacking, people are very lazy, faithfulness is lacking, honest and integrity is lacking, etc
•There is no much commitment and accountability
•Anything can be done, there are no boundaries, people are free to do what they want! People do not want rules and regulations, they do not believe in dos and don’ts!
Which Generation are you on?
Proverbs 30v11-14, “A generation is, that lightly esteemeth their father, And their mother doth not bless. A generation -- pure in their own eyes, But from their own filth not washed. A generation -- how high are their eyes, Yea, their eyelids are lifted up. A generation -- swords are their teeth, And knives -- their jaw-teeth, To consume the poor from earth, And the needy from among men.”
•I want to be among the generation that will be balanced, walk in the full truth and light of the Word!
•I believe a human being’s life here on earth has facets or different aspects that need to full equally developed and worked on.
•Just like we need to exercise our physical bodies, we need to exercise our whole being.
•When working on or developing your body, you do not concentrate on one part and expect to be strong in all areas.
•There is a spiritual aspect of life, physical aspect, relational aspect, academic & professional aspect, financial aspect, moral & ethical aspect, family aspect, etc
•Being prayerful sound and spending time in God’s presence does not automatically makes you successful in all areas.
•Excelling in education and or financial issues does not make you successful in your spiritual life.
•Being faithful in attending church meetings does not make you balanced.
•You need to make a conscious and deliberate decision to develop all aspects of your life.
•I once heard a minister say “My wife is very good in the Word, she is better than me in studying the Word but I am better than her in prayer” I am not very sure whether that is proper!
•My desire is than I be able to help others and the next generation in the full package of the gospel.
•I desire to be balanced and help the next generation to be balanced
•I do not want to leave the coming generation with bits and pieces of the gospel
•I am afraid to leave the coming generation with the kind of loose and light gospel.
•I do not want to leave a generation without direction.
•I believe in the full package- holiness, consecration, being called, being successful, full of the Holy Spirit and power and other principles that the Word teaches.
Proper Knowledge Of God leads to success.
•1Peter 3v10-12, “For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good--whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness {and} shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them].”
•It is important to know and understand that God wants us to succeed
•If you do not understand or are ignorant of God’s purpose for your life, you will not succeed
•There are principles that govern or operate in the spiritual realm which have to be followed for things to work
•Ignorance will lead you to death and failure
•The will of God is not automatic in your life unless you agree with Him
•Many times we think if it God’s will, it will work (without us doing our part).
•We need to find out, pursue and fulfill God’s purpose and or destiny for our lives
•We need to find out what the Word says we can do and do it.
•Being successful is basically fulfilling the reason for your being.
•Being successful I believe entails being balanced and progressive of doing well in all aspects of your life.
•We need to have good lives, Peter says “…who wants a good life…”, I want a good life. We need to plan for good life, be a generation that will succeed in everything and leave something tangible for our children.
•We need to prepare for our marriages and children. Find out how to have a good and healthy marriage, how to raise children, etc. Its not difficult to get into a relationship, its not difficult to have children, but it needs commitment to have a healthy marriage and taking care of your children.
•Let us live holy lives, have direction in life, seek God, pray, study the Word, be educated as much as we can, make much money as we can, preach the gospel, be resourceful and help other people, fear God, have health marriages & families, etc.
•Do not limit how God wants to use you, be it in ministry, business, politics, marriage, etc
•Let us aim and work on being that generation that will find out the full counsel of God, will not be limited and hindered by other people and lack of knowledge but will pursue God and impact others and much more the coming generations!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
Philippians 2v5-9, “Let this same attitude {and} purpose {and} [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God {and} in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped {or} retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men {and} was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased {and} humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,”
•The reason the bible talks of us having the attitude that was in Christ shows that we have a choice to make on what attitude we want to have
•We can choose to let the attitude of Christ influence us or not.
•Christ was influenced by a certain attitude or mind to go through suffering for us, He had a choice!
•You are what you are today and where you are because of your attitude
•Your attitude will determine your future also
•As a man thinks so is he. Prov 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. As one who reckons, he says to you, eat and drink, yet his heart is not with you [but is grudging the cost].”
•Your attitude towards some things or issues in life will determine your achieving or not achieving those things
•Your attitude towards God and the things of God will determine what you do about Him
•Your attitude towards the gospel will determine your approach towards the gospel
•Your attitude towards the church will determine your approach towards church
•Some people think being fully committed to the church and giving your resources to the ministry is being too much
•Your attitude towards other people will determine how you treat them
•Your attitude towards certain tribes, races, practices, etc will determine how you treat those people
•Your attitude may be influenced by your background, how other people treated you, how you were taught, your company or the people you associate with, etc
•Your attitude towards success and people who are successful will determine your approach towards them and your own success or failure
•There are some who think being successful is being proud or pompous,
•To progress in life or in other things, you might need to break or make a radical change to your attitude
•When growing up, at school, I did not have a right attitude towards girls, that made me not even have compassion for them. I used even to beat up girls or mistreat them without care.
•Today my attitude towards women is different; I now understand women are a special specie. They need to be treated with care, love and delicacy.
•You need to have a right and positive attitude if you are to progress and succeed in life, have a winning attitude.
•Do not always see yourself as a failure, have an attitude that says, “I can do it.” You may have failed but that does not make you a failure.
The Battle of the mind (attitude)
•Romans 12v1-2, it is important to renew your mind or get your attitude changed. “I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, {and} beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service {and} spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, {even} the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”
•When you got born again, your spirit being was made a new creature in Christ but you soul / mind and body were not instantly changed.
•Your attitude is your responsibility, God can not force change on you. The bible did not say, “Pray God to change your attitude or to renew your mind”, you make the initiative.
•If you do not do something about your mind and or attitude, nothing will be done.
•Your attitude and or the state of your mind will limit your growth.
•2Corithians 10v3-6, there is a warfare or battle of the mind or attitude; some attitudes have to be brought to down to subjection! “For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh {and} using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow {and} destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments {and} theories {and} reasonings and every proud {and} lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought {and} purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission {and} obedience [as a church] are fully secured {and} complete.”
•Luke 6v45, “The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.”
The Importance of a right attitude
•Your attitude towards marriage, young people, old people, man, women, work, church, family, education, etc determines what you do and your success or failure in those areas.
•Some people think that working is a curse; they think that working is enriching other people, their attitude towards work is skewed and hence they are not productive.
•At work we work under lot of pressure. We sometimes work odd hours up to even 21-24 hours a day on rare occasion. When I tell people that, they seem to feel pity for me!
•But, I am not really to be pitied for that!. Of coarse there has to be a balance to the matter, I am not saying we have to work 24 hours every day. There is need to rest, etc
•What motivates me in life is to be resourceful, helpful and have a positive and constructive contribution.
Examples
•1Chronicles 12v1-2, 8 David’s might men did not start at the top. “THESE ARE the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he yet concealed himself because of Saul son of Kish; they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war. They were bowmen and could use the right hand or the left to sling stones or shoot arrows from the bow; they were of Saul's kinsmen of Benjamin. Of the Gadites there went over to David to the stronghold in the wilderness men of might, men trained for war who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains:”
•Actually they started very low in life, 1 Samuel 22v1-2, “SO DAVID departed and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone in distress or in debt or discontented gathered to him, and he became a commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men.”
•They were distressed people, in debt and discontented. Your current state and facts about your life do not necessarily determine who you are or will be unless you accept that state.
•The army of David came from people who were not renowned and successful at the time. David had a right attitude towards them.
•He did not chase them away and look for very high profile people.
•He accepted them, trained them, and helped instill a right attitude in them and produced the might man of valour out of them.
•It is better to work with a weak person than to work with a person with a skewed or wrong attitude.
•David’s man also had a right attitude though they were not perfect. They:
i)started where they were, in distress but chose to serve David when still a fugitive
ii)Could use both hands, that can signify balance in life
iii)Had faces of lions, brave and right attitude
iv) Strength of a gazelle, they were disciplined
•It is important to start where you are, serve those that you have opportunity to serve, be balanced, have right attitude and be disciplined, that will have a bearing to your success
•We still need to talk about discipline, commitment, sacrifice, patience and dedication today.
•We are living at a time when most things are instant. We are no longer used to waiting. Most things are spontaneous.
•Food is available almost everywhere in town, there are takeaways to avoid cooking, there are electric kettles, microwaves, etc to warm up things, etc. There are pampers for kids to avoid nappies. If not careful, that same attitude may creep into our spirit and we miss or lose Christian or biblical virtues.
•People need to know that they need to work and sow in life.
•Joshua had a right spirit or attitude in him about Canaan, Numbers 14v6-9, “And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the scouts who had searched the land, rent their clothes, And they said to all the company of Israelites, The land through which we passed as scouts is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense {and} the shadow [of protection] is removed from over them, but the Lord is with us. Fear them not.”
•Caleb had a right victorious attitude even at the age of 80. Numbers 13v30, “Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it”.
Joshua 14v6-14. He still maintained the right attitude up the end and trusted God for victory.
“Then the people of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning me and you in Kadesh-barnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout out the land. And I brought him a report as it was in my heart. But my brethren who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, Surely the land on which your feet have walked shall be an inheritance to you and your children always, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God. And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old Yet I am as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now for war and to go out and to come in. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke that day. For you heard then how the [giantlike] Anakim were there and that the cities were great and fortified; if the Lord will be with me, I shall drive them out just as the Lord said. Then Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Changing Your Attitude
•For Abraham, God asked him to live his relatives to another land
•For Israelites, it took time (40 years) for the Egyptian attitude to depart out of them
•Sometimes you might need to change your company to develop a right attitude.
•The people that you hang around with, are they helping you to develop a right attitude towards life?
•1Corinthinas 15v33, company you keep will affect your attitude and in the long run your destiny. “Do not be so deceived {and} misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt {and} deprave good manners {and} morals {and} character”
•I am not saying do not associate with people but do not associate with people to the extent that they negatively influence your attitude.
•I have seen and listed to negative people, to them nothing is good, they are always complaining!
•I normally keep quite when in the presence of such!
•Proverbs 13v20, those that you keep company with will influence your thinking and attitude whether for bad or for good.
•Some people have a negative attitude towards success, prosperity, excellence and achievement. They believe that you need not be outstanding. Just be moderate and not go too far. Be like the rest.
•So, at times you need to drop your friends or people you associate with if you are to succeed.
•Abraham had to separate with Lot.
•Some believe that being mediocre is being humble and cool.
•I believe in success, prosperity, excellence and achieving in life whether spiritually or naturally.
•I believe in doing things with the best of my ability, I do not like being associated with failure and things that are not orderly.
•In your finances, work, education, etc have the right attitude.
•Many people who are poor or who lack in life are so because of their attitude.
•Many people who do not have much have a wrong attitude towards those who are successful, they say they are proud, “bayazenzisa”. That attitude will keep you poor.
•If somebody is successful, do not hate them, ask how they are doing it. Do not be covetous; you have the chance of you succeeding just like them.
•Have the right attitude towards money, do not worship riches but riches are good if you have a right attitudes towards them.
•Have the right attitude towards giving to the church, if you think giving to the church is making pastors rich, you will not give and you will remain poor.
•Mal 1:11-14, “ For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and indeed a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you [priests] profane it when [by your actions] you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit of it, its food, is contemptible {and} may be despised. You say also, Behold, what a drudgery {and} weariness this is! And you have sniffed at it, says the Lord of hosts. And you have brought that which was taken by violence, or the lame or the sick; this you bring as an offering! Shall I accept this from your hand? says the Lord. But cursed is the [cheating] deceiver who has a male in his flock and vows to offer it, yet sacrifices to the [sovereign] Lord a blemished {or} diseased thing! For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My name is terrible {and} to be [reverently] feared among the nations.”
•Normally, the natural disabilities and impairments cannot be able to deter you from being successful than wrong attitude. There a lot of people with disabilities that are achieving great things that able bodied people.
Conclusion
•Ecclesiastes 9v10 talks of doing everything with excellence, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the place of the dead), where you are going”
•In the creating, God did everything good, so, whatever you do, do it good!
•Jesus said being faithful in little things opens room for promotion or greater things, Luke 16v10-12, “He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest {and} unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest {and} unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]?”
•The reason the bible talks of us having the attitude that was in Christ shows that we have a choice to make on what attitude we want to have
•We can choose to let the attitude of Christ influence us or not.
•Christ was influenced by a certain attitude or mind to go through suffering for us, He had a choice!
•You are what you are today and where you are because of your attitude
•Your attitude will determine your future also
•As a man thinks so is he. Prov 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. As one who reckons, he says to you, eat and drink, yet his heart is not with you [but is grudging the cost].”
•Your attitude towards some things or issues in life will determine your achieving or not achieving those things
•Your attitude towards God and the things of God will determine what you do about Him
•Your attitude towards the gospel will determine your approach towards the gospel
•Your attitude towards the church will determine your approach towards church
•Some people think being fully committed to the church and giving your resources to the ministry is being too much
•Your attitude towards other people will determine how you treat them
•Your attitude towards certain tribes, races, practices, etc will determine how you treat those people
•Your attitude may be influenced by your background, how other people treated you, how you were taught, your company or the people you associate with, etc
•Your attitude towards success and people who are successful will determine your approach towards them and your own success or failure
•There are some who think being successful is being proud or pompous,
•To progress in life or in other things, you might need to break or make a radical change to your attitude
•When growing up, at school, I did not have a right attitude towards girls, that made me not even have compassion for them. I used even to beat up girls or mistreat them without care.
•Today my attitude towards women is different; I now understand women are a special specie. They need to be treated with care, love and delicacy.
•You need to have a right and positive attitude if you are to progress and succeed in life, have a winning attitude.
•Do not always see yourself as a failure, have an attitude that says, “I can do it.” You may have failed but that does not make you a failure.
The Battle of the mind (attitude)
•Romans 12v1-2, it is important to renew your mind or get your attitude changed. “I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, {and} beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service {and} spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, {even} the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”
•When you got born again, your spirit being was made a new creature in Christ but you soul / mind and body were not instantly changed.
•Your attitude is your responsibility, God can not force change on you. The bible did not say, “Pray God to change your attitude or to renew your mind”, you make the initiative.
•If you do not do something about your mind and or attitude, nothing will be done.
•Your attitude and or the state of your mind will limit your growth.
•2Corithians 10v3-6, there is a warfare or battle of the mind or attitude; some attitudes have to be brought to down to subjection! “For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh {and} using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow {and} destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments {and} theories {and} reasonings and every proud {and} lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought {and} purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission {and} obedience [as a church] are fully secured {and} complete.”
•Luke 6v45, “The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.”
The Importance of a right attitude
•Your attitude towards marriage, young people, old people, man, women, work, church, family, education, etc determines what you do and your success or failure in those areas.
•Some people think that working is a curse; they think that working is enriching other people, their attitude towards work is skewed and hence they are not productive.
•At work we work under lot of pressure. We sometimes work odd hours up to even 21-24 hours a day on rare occasion. When I tell people that, they seem to feel pity for me!
•But, I am not really to be pitied for that!. Of coarse there has to be a balance to the matter, I am not saying we have to work 24 hours every day. There is need to rest, etc
•What motivates me in life is to be resourceful, helpful and have a positive and constructive contribution.
Examples
•1Chronicles 12v1-2, 8 David’s might men did not start at the top. “THESE ARE the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he yet concealed himself because of Saul son of Kish; they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war. They were bowmen and could use the right hand or the left to sling stones or shoot arrows from the bow; they were of Saul's kinsmen of Benjamin. Of the Gadites there went over to David to the stronghold in the wilderness men of might, men trained for war who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains:”
•Actually they started very low in life, 1 Samuel 22v1-2, “SO DAVID departed and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone in distress or in debt or discontented gathered to him, and he became a commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men.”
•They were distressed people, in debt and discontented. Your current state and facts about your life do not necessarily determine who you are or will be unless you accept that state.
•The army of David came from people who were not renowned and successful at the time. David had a right attitude towards them.
•He did not chase them away and look for very high profile people.
•He accepted them, trained them, and helped instill a right attitude in them and produced the might man of valour out of them.
•It is better to work with a weak person than to work with a person with a skewed or wrong attitude.
•David’s man also had a right attitude though they were not perfect. They:
i)started where they were, in distress but chose to serve David when still a fugitive
ii)Could use both hands, that can signify balance in life
iii)Had faces of lions, brave and right attitude
iv) Strength of a gazelle, they were disciplined
•It is important to start where you are, serve those that you have opportunity to serve, be balanced, have right attitude and be disciplined, that will have a bearing to your success
•We still need to talk about discipline, commitment, sacrifice, patience and dedication today.
•We are living at a time when most things are instant. We are no longer used to waiting. Most things are spontaneous.
•Food is available almost everywhere in town, there are takeaways to avoid cooking, there are electric kettles, microwaves, etc to warm up things, etc. There are pampers for kids to avoid nappies. If not careful, that same attitude may creep into our spirit and we miss or lose Christian or biblical virtues.
•People need to know that they need to work and sow in life.
•Joshua had a right spirit or attitude in him about Canaan, Numbers 14v6-9, “And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the scouts who had searched the land, rent their clothes, And they said to all the company of Israelites, The land through which we passed as scouts is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense {and} the shadow [of protection] is removed from over them, but the Lord is with us. Fear them not.”
•Caleb had a right victorious attitude even at the age of 80. Numbers 13v30, “Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it”.
Joshua 14v6-14. He still maintained the right attitude up the end and trusted God for victory.
“Then the people of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning me and you in Kadesh-barnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout out the land. And I brought him a report as it was in my heart. But my brethren who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, Surely the land on which your feet have walked shall be an inheritance to you and your children always, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God. And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old Yet I am as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now for war and to go out and to come in. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke that day. For you heard then how the [giantlike] Anakim were there and that the cities were great and fortified; if the Lord will be with me, I shall drive them out just as the Lord said. Then Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Changing Your Attitude
•For Abraham, God asked him to live his relatives to another land
•For Israelites, it took time (40 years) for the Egyptian attitude to depart out of them
•Sometimes you might need to change your company to develop a right attitude.
•The people that you hang around with, are they helping you to develop a right attitude towards life?
•1Corinthinas 15v33, company you keep will affect your attitude and in the long run your destiny. “Do not be so deceived {and} misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt {and} deprave good manners {and} morals {and} character”
•I am not saying do not associate with people but do not associate with people to the extent that they negatively influence your attitude.
•I have seen and listed to negative people, to them nothing is good, they are always complaining!
•I normally keep quite when in the presence of such!
•Proverbs 13v20, those that you keep company with will influence your thinking and attitude whether for bad or for good.
•Some people have a negative attitude towards success, prosperity, excellence and achievement. They believe that you need not be outstanding. Just be moderate and not go too far. Be like the rest.
•So, at times you need to drop your friends or people you associate with if you are to succeed.
•Abraham had to separate with Lot.
•Some believe that being mediocre is being humble and cool.
•I believe in success, prosperity, excellence and achieving in life whether spiritually or naturally.
•I believe in doing things with the best of my ability, I do not like being associated with failure and things that are not orderly.
•In your finances, work, education, etc have the right attitude.
•Many people who are poor or who lack in life are so because of their attitude.
•Many people who do not have much have a wrong attitude towards those who are successful, they say they are proud, “bayazenzisa”. That attitude will keep you poor.
•If somebody is successful, do not hate them, ask how they are doing it. Do not be covetous; you have the chance of you succeeding just like them.
•Have the right attitude towards money, do not worship riches but riches are good if you have a right attitudes towards them.
•Have the right attitude towards giving to the church, if you think giving to the church is making pastors rich, you will not give and you will remain poor.
•Mal 1:11-14, “ For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and indeed a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you [priests] profane it when [by your actions] you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit of it, its food, is contemptible {and} may be despised. You say also, Behold, what a drudgery {and} weariness this is! And you have sniffed at it, says the Lord of hosts. And you have brought that which was taken by violence, or the lame or the sick; this you bring as an offering! Shall I accept this from your hand? says the Lord. But cursed is the [cheating] deceiver who has a male in his flock and vows to offer it, yet sacrifices to the [sovereign] Lord a blemished {or} diseased thing! For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My name is terrible {and} to be [reverently] feared among the nations.”
•Normally, the natural disabilities and impairments cannot be able to deter you from being successful than wrong attitude. There a lot of people with disabilities that are achieving great things that able bodied people.
Conclusion
•Ecclesiastes 9v10 talks of doing everything with excellence, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the place of the dead), where you are going”
•In the creating, God did everything good, so, whatever you do, do it good!
•Jesus said being faithful in little things opens room for promotion or greater things, Luke 16v10-12, “He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest {and} unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest {and} unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]?”
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